I often hear that the printed "Rashi" commentary in certain masechtot of the Talmud Bavli (first that come to mind are Moed Katan and Nedarim) is not actually written by Rashi. Does anyone have a full list of which of the commentaries were actually written by Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki and which were written by others in his style? How would one tell the difference?

Agav, according to my history teacher R. Dovid Katz (Baltimore) Rashi composed his work by using an older work, the kuntres, and editing / adding to it. Some of the perushim on the side of the Gemara e.g. the Rach are actually earlier versions of the kuntres. He said that even after Rashi completed his work he went over it two or three times and he continued editing throughout his life (and apparently there are actual manuscripts where you can see words crossed out by Rashi himself). IIRC his theory of these masechtos is that Rashi hadn't edited them as much by the time he passed away.
–
Dov FJul 30 '12 at 23:13

3 Answers
3

Printed editions of the commentaries on tractates Ta’anit, Nedarim, Nazir and Horayot have been mistakenly attributed to him, and were most probably written by the scholars of Mainz or others. Likewise the printed commentary on Moed Katan is wrongly attributed to him. Two tractates have partial Rashi commentaries: Bava Batra (until 29b) and Makkot (until 20a). There is some conjecture as to whether Rashi was the author of the commentary on the Tractate Avot printed in the Siddur Tefila (daily prayerbook), edited by Netanel ben Peretz Halfan, Trino, 1525.

As to how one would be able to tell the difference, I assume it is through normal literary analysis methods, such as style of writing, linguistics, access (or lack thereof) to certain other texts quoted within, reconciliation with author's other writings, etc.

The Rashi-like commentary on Taanis keeps referring to the Shachris prayer as "Yotzer", which I don't believe Rashi does on other tractates.
–
ShalomApr 5 '12 at 2:08

3

While we're at it: the Rashi-like commentary on Divrei HaYamim, when translating Hebrew phrases into "laaz" (vernacular), is using Old German instead of Rashi's usual Old French!
–
ShalomApr 5 '12 at 2:09

@Shalom the Mahara"tz Chiyot goes through a list of like 6 reasons why he thinks it isn't Rashi on Ta'anit. (I linked to it in my comment above.)
–
Baal Shemot TovotApr 5 '12 at 5:55

the last perek of pesachim has rashba"m as well as rashi. the perus on tamid is not rashi, nor is the perush on kinnim. the middle of menachos has two printed versions of rashi, it is possible that on is misattributed to him. printed in place of rashi on nazir is the riva"n, rashi's son-in-law. the end of makkos is that riva"n and rabbeinu gershom. the "rashi" on the last perek of sanhedrin (perek chelek) may be misattributed. the perush on nedarim is of unknown authorship. the rashi on avos is actually written by r' simcha, author of the machzor vitri. in menachos 13a there is a long explanation by the rashba"m. most of bava basra is expalined by teh rashba"m. rashi on me'ila is not rashi. (he quotes rashi sometimes)